Tony Whitmore's blog

A double dose of Katy

A couple of weeks ago I saw Katy Manning in a tour of Agatha Christie’s “A Murder is Announced.” It’s a very traditional production: A single set and a cast of eleven, with scene changes covered by blackouts and music. Unusual in this day and age, but pleasant for it. Katy portrayed the central character of the piece and delivered a strong, confident performance. Some of the other cast members appeared to be playing well out of their age range: One character supposedly in her dotage was clearly played by a much younger actress (though Katy corrected me later on that point), and Dean Gaffney playing a student was stretching credulity somewhat! Overall the production was enjoyable and it was great to see Katy in action.

This weekend was the third of the BFI’s monthly Doctor Who screenings. The Mind of Evil was shown in colour for the first time in forty-two years in the UK, following a painstaking colour recovery process. I am even more convinced now that Doctor Who is at its best when watched with five hundred other fans in a cinema! The humour (intentional and otherwise) is emphasised, the action enhanced and the performances sparkle.

Finally, a massive thank you to everyone who responded to last week’s blog post. It’s been touching seeing some familiar names on the Sam Shaw Appeal page. The appeal has nearly reached 3% of the target. It’s a big target and that 3% represents an amazing contribution from a lot of people in a short time. Please give something if you can.